Colorectal cancer screening

Colorectal cancer is the subject of an organized screening program aimed at looking for the presence of hidden blood, that is to say a microscopic hemorrhage not visible to the naked eye, in the stool through a stool analysis (immunological fecal test). 

The purpose of this screening is to promote early diagnosis by identifying and removing possible precancerous lesions (adenomatous polyps) during colonoscopy. Objective: to improve the prognosis of a colorectal cancer by detecting it as early as possible, and thus to reduce the mortality induced by this cancer.

Screening test

Organized screening concerns people aged 50 to 74 years, without a family history of polyp or colorectal cancer and without symptoms. An invitation by mail is sent to them every 2 years. If symptoms and/or family history are present, a colonoscopy should be performed immediately.

How do you get the "screening kit" or immunological fecal test?

• by ordering it online on the website https://monkit.depistage-colorectal.fr/#/accueil (without medical prescription) upon receipt of the invitation letter,
• by obtaining it from a doctor or pharmacist.

A tutorial from Institut National du Cancer explaining how to use the screening kit is available online:

If the test is negative, the fecal test will need to be repeated every 2 years until the age of 74.

Colonoscopy

If the fecal test is positive, a colonoscopy should be performed without delay. The examination is performed under general anesthesia by a gastroenterologist and involves taking a colon cleansing beforehand in order to empty the colon of stool. A cancer or a precancerous lesion (polyp) is identified in about 10% and 30% of cases respectively.

While most polyps can be removed during colonoscopy, cancers are best treated with surgery. Only samples (biopsies) are taken during the colonoscopy to confirm a cancer diagnosis.